Arrow 51513 224673390 2008-07-09T22:25:50Z Muro Bot 5849026 robot Adding: [[eu:Gezi]] {{otheruses1|the weapon}} [[Image:Two arrows.jpg|300px|thumb|Traditional target arrow and replica medieval arrow.]] [[Image:DFRArrow.jpg|thumb|Modern arrow with plastic fletchings and nock.]] An '''arrow''' is a pointed [[projectile]] that is shot with a [[bow (weapon)|bow]]. It predates recorded history and is common to most [[cultures]]. == Structure == [[Image:arrow.svg|300px|thumb|Schematic of an arrow with many parts.]] A normal arrow consists of a shaft with an arrowhead attached to the front end, with fletchings and a nock at the other. Arrow sizes vary greatly across cultures, ranging from eighteen inches to five feet (45 cm to 150 cm).<ref name="stone-glossary-arrow">Stone, George Cameron (1934). ''A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration, and Use of Arms and Armor in All Countries and in All Times'', Mineola: Dover Publications. ISBN 0-486-40726-8</ref> However, most modern arrows are two-and-a-half to three feet long (75 cm to 90 cm), similar to the length of English war arrows (which were made to be half the height of the man who shot them).<ref name="stone-glossary-arrow" /> Very short arrows have been used, shot through a guide attached either to the bow (an "overdraw") or to the archer's wrist (the Turkish "siper"). <ref>Turkish Archery and the Composite Bow. Paul E. Klopsteg ISBN-10: 1564160939 ISBN-13: 978-1564160935</ref> These may fly farther than heavier arrows, and an enemy without suitable equipment may find himself unable to return them. [[Image:Shoshonemanstraighteningarrow.png|thumb|left|A [[Shoshone]] man using a shaft straightener in traditional arrow construction.]] === Shaft === The shaft is the primary structural element of the arrow, to which the other components are attached. Traditional arrow shafts are made from lightweight [[wood]], [[bamboo]] or [[Phragmites|reeds]], while modern shafts may be made from [[aluminium]] or [[carbon fiber reinforced plastic]]. The [[stiffness]] of the shaft is known as its spine, referring to how little the shaft bends when compressed. Hence, an arrow which bends less is said to have more spine. In order to strike consistently, a group of arrows must be similarly-spined. "Center-shot" bows, in which the arrow passes through the central vertical axis of the bow riser, may obtain consistent results from arrows with a wide range of spines. However, most traditional bows are not center-shot and the arrow has to deflect around the handle in the [[archer's paradox]]; such bows tend to give most consistent results with a narrower range of arrow spine that allows the arrow to deflect correctly around the bow. Higher draw-weight bows will generally require stiffer arrows, with more spine (less flexibility) to give the correct amount of flex when shot. ==== Footed arrows ==== Sometimes a shaft will be made of two different types of wood fastened together, resulting in what is known as a footed arrow. Known by some as the finest of wood arrows<ref name="Langston">{{cite book |last=Langston |first=Gene |title=The Traditional Bowyer's Bible - Volume Three |year=1994 |publisher=The Lyons Press |location=Guilford |isbn=1-58574-087-X |chapter=Custom Shafts }}</ref>, footed arrows were used both by early Europeans and [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]]. Footed arrows will typically consist of a short length of [[hardwood]] near the head of the arrow, with the remainder of the shaft consisting of [[softwood]]. By reinforcing the area most likely to break, the arrow is more likely to survive impact, while maintaining overall flexibility and lighter weight. === Arrowhead === {{main|arrowhead}} [[Image:Arrowhead.jpg|thumb|[[Obsidian]] broadhead]] [[Image:Fleches-japonaises-p1000615.jpg|thumb|right|Various Japanese arrowheads]] [[Image:Native American arrowheads.JPG|thumb|Native American arrowheads]] [[Image:Field points.jpg|thumb|20th century field points]] The arrowhead or [[projectile point]] is the primary functional part of the arrow, and plays the largest role in determining its purpose. Some arrows may simply use a sharpened tip of the solid shaft, but it is far more common for separate arrowheads to be made, usually from metal, horn, or some other hard material. Arrowheads are usually separated by function: *'''[[Bodkin point]]s''' are short, rigid points with a small cross-section. They achieved prominence in the [[Late Middle Ages]] through their greater effectiveness against armour{{Dubious|date=March 2008}}. They would normally be used only for war. *'''Blunts''' are unsharpened arrowheads occasionally used for types of target shooting, for shooting at stumps or other targets of opportunity, or hunting small game when the goal is to stun the target without penetration. Blunts are commonly made of metal or hard rubber. Occasionally, the arrow shaft may penetrate the head and the target; safety is still important with blunt arrows. *'''Judo points''' have spring wires extending sideways from the tip. These catch on grass and debris to prevent the arrow from being lost in the vegetation. Used for practice and for small game. *'''Broadheads''' are used for hunting. They are expensive and usually not used for practice. They usually have two to four sharp blades that cause massive [[bleeding]] in the victim. There are two main types of broadheads used by hunters. One is the '''fixed-blade''', while the other is the '''mechanical'''. While the fixed-blade broadhead keeps its blades rigid and unmovable on the broadhead at all times, the mechanical broadhead deploys its blades upon contact with the target, its blades swinging out to wound the target. The mechanical head flies better because it is more streamlined, but has less penetration as it uses some of the kinetic energy in the arrow to deploy its blades. *'''Field tips''' are similar to target points and have a distinct shoulder, so that missed outdoor shots do not become as stuck in obstacles such as tree stumps. They are also used for shooting practice by hunters, by offering similar flight characteristics and weights as broadheads, without getting lodged in target materials and causing excessive damage upon removal. *'''Target points''' are bullet-shaped with a sharp point, designed to penetrate [[Archery butts|target butts]] easily without causing excessive damage to them. *'''Safety arrows''' are designed to be used in various forms of reenactment combat, to reduce the risk when fired at people. These arrows may have heads that are very wide or padded. In combination with bows of restricted draw weight and draw length, these heads may reduce to acceptable levels the risks of shooting arrows at suitably armoured people. The parameters will vary depending on the specific rules being used and on the levels of risk felt acceptable to the participants. For instance, [[Society for Creative Anachronism|SCA]] combat rules require a padded head at least 1 1/4" in diameter, with bows not exceeding 28 inches and 50 lbs of draw for use against well-armoured individuals. <ref>[http://www.sca.org/officers/marshal/combat/archery/missile_combat_plus_supplement.pdf SCA missile combat rules]</ref> Arrowheads may be attached to the shaft with a cap, a socketed [[Tang (weaponry)|tang]], or inserted into a split in the shaft and held by a process called [[hafting]].<ref name="stone-glossary-arrow" /> Points attached with caps are simply slid snugly over the end of the shaft, or may be held on with [[Hot melt adhesive|hot glue]]. Split-shaft construction involves splitting the arrow shaft lengthwise, inserting the arrowhead, and securing it using a [[ferrule]], sinew, or wire.<ref name=TBB-steel_points">{{cite book |last=Parker |first=Glenn |authorlink= |title=The Traditional Bowyer's Bible - Volume Two |year=1992 |publisher=The Lyons Press |location=Guilford |isbn=1-58574-086-1 |chapter=Steel Points }}</ref> === Fletchings === {{main|Fletching}} [[Image:DFRArrow (1).jpg|thumb|Straight [[fletching]]s on an arrow.]] Fletchings are found at the back of the arrow and provide a small amount of drag used to stabilize the flight of the arrow. They are designed to keep the arrow pointed in the direction of travel by strongly damping down any tendency to [[flight dynamics|pitch or yaw]]. Some cultures, for example most in [[New Guinea]], did not use fletching on their arrows. <ref>Gardens of War: Life and Death in the New Guinea Stone Age. Robert Gardner. Deutsch 1969. ISBN-10: 0233961402, ISBN-13: 978-0233961408</ref> Fletchings are traditionally made from [[feather]]s (often from a [[goose]] or [[turkey (bird)|turkey]]) bound to the arrow's shaft, but are now often made of [[plastic]] (known as "vanes"). Historically, some arrows used for the [[proofing of armour]] used [[copper]] vanes. <ref>{{cite book| last=Ffoulkes|first=Charles |authorlink = Charles ffoulkes|title=The Armourer and his Craft|year=1988|origyear=1912|edition=Dover reprint|publisher=Dover Publications|isbn=0-486-25851-3}}</ref> Flight archers may use razor blades for fletching, in order to reduce air resistance. Artisans who make arrows by hand are known as "fletchers," a word related to the [[French language|French]] word for arrow, ''flèche''. This is the same derivation as the verb "fletch", meaning to provide an arrow with its feathers. Glue and/or thread are the main traditional methods of attaching fletchings. A "fletching jig" is often used in modern times, to hold the fletchings in exactly the right orientation on the shaft while the glue hardens. Fletchings may be straight, or arranged with a slight offset around the shaft of the arrow to provide a slight rotation which improves accuracy. Most arrows will have three fletches, but some have four or even more. Fletchings generally range from two to six inches in length; flight arrows intended to travel the maximum possible distance typically have very low fletching, hunting arrows with broadheads require long and high fletching to stabilize them against the aerodynamic effect of the head. With conventional three-feather fletching, one feather, called the "cock" feather, is at a right angle to the nock, and is conventionally placed so that it will not contact the bow when the arrow is shot. However, many modern target archers have no "cock" feather on their arrows, thus improving accuracy. Four-feather fletching has the advantage that there is no cock feather, so making nocking the arrow slightly easier; this may help very young children in particular to enjoy archery. A [[Flu-Flu Arrow|flu-flu]] is a form of fletching, normally made by using long sections of full length feathers, in most cases six or more sections are used rather than the traditional three. Alternatively two long feathers can be spiraled around the end of the arrow shaft. The extra fletching generates more drag and slows the arrow down rapidly after a short distance, about 30m or so. Flu-Flu arrows are often used for hunting birds, or for children's archery, and can be used to play [[Flu-Flu Golf]]. === Nocks === The nock serves to keep the arrow in place on the string as the bow is being drawn. Nocks may be simple slots cut in the back of the arrow, or separate pieces made from wood, plastic, or horn that are then attached to the end of the arrow. <ref name="TBB-self_arrows">Massey, Jay(1992). "Self Arrows" in ''The Traditional Bowyer's Bible - Volume One'', Guilford: The Lyons Press. ISBN 1-58574-085-3</ref> Modern nocks, and traditional Turkish nocks, are often so constructed as to curve around the string or even pinch it slightly, so that the arrow is unlikely to slip off. <ref name="Stone">Stone, G.C. "A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor"</ref> == See also == * [[Archery]] * [[Swiss arrow]] * [[Flu-Flu Arrow]] * [[Arrow poison]] * [[Quarrel]] * [[Early thermal weapons#Fire arrows|Fire arrows]] ==Notes== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.oplin.org/point/ What's the Point?: Identifying Flint Artifacts (OPLIN)] *[http://www.hectorcoleironwork.com/Arrowheads.html Types of Arrowheads made by Arrowsmith] *[http://www.tradgang.com/ashby/ Dr. Ashby's reports on broadhead penetration] *[http://library.thinkquest.org/27344/typebows.htm Types of Bows and Arrows] [[Category:Lithics]] [[Category:Archaeological artefact types]] [[Category:Archery]] [[Category:Projectiles]] [[Category:Projectile weapons]] [[Category:Hunting]] [[ar:سهم]] [[ay:Mich'i]] [[ca:Sageta]] [[cs:Šíp]] [[da:Pil (våben)]] [[de:Pfeil (Geschoss)]] [[el:Βέλος (όπλο)]] [[es:Flecha]] [[eu:Gezi]] [[fa:تیر]] [[fr:Flèche (arme)]] [[ko:화살]] [[hi:बाण]] [[hr:Strijela]] [[id:Anak panah]] [[it:Freccia]] [[he:חץ]] [[ka:ისარი (იარაღი)]] [[ku:Tîr (çek)]] [[lt:Strėlė]] [[hu:Nyíl]] [[nl:Pijl (wapen)]] [[ja:矢]] [[no:Pil]] [[pl:Strzała]] [[pt:Flecha]] [[qu:Wach'i]] [[ru:Стрела]] [[scn:Freccia]] [[simple:Arrow]] [[fi:Nuoli]] [[sv:Pil (vapen)]] [[th:ลูกศร]] [[zh:箭]]